Zambia

Why Zambia?

Forests support around 60 percent of Zambia’s rural population who depend heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods. But every year, around a quarter of a million hectares of Zambia’s forests are lost to firewood and charcoal production, and land clearing for farming, mining and human settlement.

This loss of trees and the damage it’s causing to the environment are creating problems for rural communities. Depleted soil is making it harder for farmers to grow crops and they’re becoming more reliant on expensive chemical fertilisers. They’re also suffering the impacts of climate change. Erratic rainfall and more intense flash floods are driving families, particularly from southern regions, to migrate to other parts of Zambia in search of better conditions.

According to the UNCCD, 5.2 million hectares of land in Zambia is estimated to be degraded.

According to the Republic of Zambia, the estimated deforestation rate is 200,000 – 300,000 hectares per year.

According to the UNCCD, climate change could cost Zambia’s economy US$13.8 billion.

Sustainable land regeneration, Zambia

This project will be implemented in Chibombo in Central Province and Katete and Sinda in Eastern Province. These provinces were prioritised as they have some of the highest proportions of degraded land in Zambia.

150,000

hectares of land under restoration

5 years

The project will be running from June 2022 – July 2027

Project outcomes

In order to regenerate 150,000 hectares of land, the project aims to address current land degradation issues in the prioritised project locations, as well as mobilise partners and communities to spread FMNR beyond these sites. By scaling FMNR in this way, communities experiencing significant challenges due to land degradation can mitigate and adapt to climate change, rapidly restore their environments, and better provide for their children.

World Vision’s direct FMNR programming reach is expanded.

FMNR demonstration and learning sites will be established. FMNR champions will be identified among local smallholder farmers and trained to spread the practice to other farmers.

Local tree nurseries will be supported to provide FMNR learning sites with high quality seedlings for farmers to plant alongside regenerating trees.

Stakeholders will be coordinated for increased participation of women and persons with disability, at community, provincial and district level so they are safe and supported to equally participate in FMNR activities.

Farmers will be supported through Commercial Producer Groups to identify and develop new sustainable income generation opportunities made possible through land regeneration, such as beekeeping, wild fruits, mushrooms and caterpillars, and ecotourism.

External partners empowered and mobilised to scale FMNR.

Mobilise and empower partners like governments, donors and other NGOs to spread FMNR independent of World Vision.

Existing and new multi-stakeholder networks will be supported at local and national levels to work together towards a common goal and action plan for scaling FMNR in Zambia.

Targeted training and technical support will also be provided to selected alliance partners to support the implementation of specific actions outlined in the shared action plan.

The evidence base for FMNR will be strengthened through research activities and collaborations.

Grassroots movements catalysed for widespread promotion and adoption of FMNR.

Catalyse the widespread adoption and person-to person spread of FMNR at community level.

To promote the person-to-person spread of FMNR, the project will mobilise, train and support local leaders (traditional, faith and community) and Community Based Organisation representatives (including representatives from youth and women’s groups) to promote FMNR within and beyond World Vision direct programming areas.

Children and youth will also be mobilised, trained, and supported as FMNR champions via in and out-of-school FMNR. FMNR clubs for children and youth will be established in schools and the community.

Contextualised mass media and communications activities including TV and radio programs/advertisements, community drama, and community events will be implemented to promote organic adoption and spread of FMNR within and beyond World Vision direct programming areas.

The enabling environment is strengthened to promote FMNR scaling in Zambia.

A national policy and advocacy plan will be developed and implemented to address key barriers and opportunities for scaling FMNR in Zambia.

An FMNR monitoring system will be established in collaboration with an in-country research partner to strengthen the evidence base for widespread FMNR adoption.

Community Forest Management Groups will be formed to manage and monitor FMNR demonstration and learning sites. These groups will be empowered to lead bottom-up influencing to strengthen and improve land and forest policy implementation and develop and implement local by-laws.

ANCP project

We are a valued partner of the Australian Government, receiving flexible funding under the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) each year to implement development and poverty alleviation programs overseas.

Get involved

Anyone can join the global FMNR movement by learning the technique, spreading awareness, participating in local projects, or supporting projects that directly implement FMNR to restore degraded lands and build sustainable futures for children and the communities they live in.

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